Tips For Buying A Fishing Rod

Choosing a fishing rod doesn’t have to be complicated, here are just a few tips that will help you understand the basics.

1. Learn about the different types of rods

The most popular types are spinning rods, which have eye guides on the bottom, while casting rods generally have guides on top for more accurate casts. They all come in various sizes and materials like fiberglass, graphite and even carbon fiber, which all combine to affect the overall speed and power of the rod.

2. Learn about the Speed of the Rod

The speed of the rod is also known as the action, which ranges from fast to slow, based on how far the rod bends. A fast action rod is stiff and allows you to feel slight vibrations on the line, which can also help you determine if that bump on the line is an actual bite. A slow action rod has more bend and can be more forgiving as your fish may try to wiggle out of the hook.

3. Learn about the Power of the Rod

Power refers to the resistance to this bend, that being heavy or light. A rod with heavy power is good for quick hook sets and pulling a fish quickly out from under cover, whereas lighter power is better for lighter lures and thin fishing lines that would be less visible in open water.

4. Check the info on the Rods

Most rods will have information about their speed and power, as well as length printed along the shaft. Rely on your local tackle shop for the best advice and check our next section to learn how to choose the best rod and reel combo.